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New rocket attack targets northern Iraq gas complex

A Katyusha rocket struck near an Emirati-owned gas complex in northern Iraq on Friday, a local official said, the second such unclaimed attack in as many days.

The rocket targeted the Khor Mor gas complex in the autonomous Kurdistan region without causing any injuries or damage, a Kurdish security official said.

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Iran rejects Israeli charges of attacks in Turkey

Iran on Friday dismissed as "ridiculous" allegations by Israel's foreign minister while on a visit to Ankara that the Islamic republic was planning anti-Israeli attacks in Turkey.

"The baseless allegations... are ridiculous and part of a pre-designed plot to destroy relations between the two Muslim countries," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement.

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Tunisia's interior ministry says president facing 'serious threats'

Tunisia's President Kais Saied is the target of "serious threats", the interior ministry said Friday, 11 months since the head of state staged a dramatic power grab.

"According to credible information and investigations still underway, the president of the republic and the presidency as an institution are the target of serious threats," spokeswoman Fadhila Khelifi told journalists.

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UN says Al-Jazeera journalist killed by Israeli fire

The United Nations said Friday that its findings showed that the shot that killed Al-Jazeera TV journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on May 11 was fired by Israeli forces.

The Palestinian-American journalist, who was wearing a vest marked "Press" and a helmet, was killed on May 11 while covering an Israeli army operation in Jenin camp in the northern West Bank. 

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Israeli Embassy in Uruguay says Boeing 747 trafficking arms to Syria, Hezbollah

The Israeli Embassy in Uruguay has expressed its "concern" about a cargo plane with Iranian and Venezuelan crew that has been grounded outside Buenos Aires more than two weeks.

In a news release, the embassy said some of the Iranian crew members "were involved directly in the trafficking of weapons to Syria and the terrorist organization Hezbollah of Lebanon."

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Tunisia trade unions chief rejects IMF reforms

The head of Tunisia's powerful UGTT trade union confederation on Thursday rejected conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for a new loan to bail out the country's struggling economy.

"We reject the conditions set by the IMF, given Tunisians' low salaries, lack of means, rising poverty and unemployment," Noureddine Taboubi told reporters.

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Sanctioned Russian oligarch yacht in Dubai as pressure grows

A sleek $156 million superyacht belonging to a sanctioned Russian oligarch and parliamentarian is now docked in Dubai, the latest reminder of how the skyscraper-studded sheikhdom has become a haven for Russian money amid Moscow's war on Ukraine.

The 98-meter (324-foot) Madame Gu, which has a helicopter pad, gym, beach club and elevator, remained moored off Dubai's Port Rashid on Thursday in what has become a test for the close partnership between the United States and United Arab Emirates.

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Tension in Iraq as cleric accuses Iran's allies of meddling

Iraq's Parliament is set to hold a session Thursday to vote in replacements for 73 lawmakers who resigned earlier this month. The collective walkout by followers of Iraq's most influential Shiite politician threw Iraq into further uncertainty, deepening a months-long political crisis over government formation.

However, it was not clear whether the extraordinary session requested by 50 members of parliament during a recess would go through. A simple majority of the legislature's 329 members is required for an electoral session, and the cleric and politician, Muqtada al-Sadr, urged parliamentary blocs not to succumb to "pressures" from Iranian-backed factions.

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Turkey, Saudi hail 'new era of cooperation' as prince visits

Turkey and Saudi Arabia have declared their determination to start a "new era of cooperation" during a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as they set aside years of acrimony following the brutal slaying of a Saudi columnist.

The Turkish fiancée of the slain journalist meanwhile, decried the crown prince's visit.

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Israeli-hit Damascus airport to reopen on Thursday

Damascus airport is due to reopen on Thursday, almost two weeks after Israeli strikes rendered its runways unusable, the Syrian transport ministry said.

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